Shoe heel construction



Nov. 9, 1937. R. D. MacDoNALD.

SHOE HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 12, :1936

Y ORN EYS.

Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNlTE STATES rATENT oFFicE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe heels. More particularly it relates to a novel form of resilient shoe heel which is adapted for easy application to a heel structure of a shoe and which will be retained in position thereon by means of the resiliency of the material of which it is formed.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a shoe heel construction in which the wear receiving element is easily and conveniently mounted on the shoe heel and is retained in position thereon without the necessity of auxiliary fastening means, such as nails or screws heretofore required in constructions of thisgeneral character.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a resilient shoe heel which is so constructed and formed that it will have an intertting and interlocking relation with the shoe heel structure with which it is associated in order to provide a protective covering for all sides thereof.

Still further, the invention contemplates a displaceable heel construction which is particularly easily mounted in position and which, when once mounted in position, will be firmly and permanently secured in place.

Yet another object of the invention consists in the provision of a resilient shoe heel element which is adapted to cooperate with a fixed portion of the shoe heel to provide an interlocking relation therebetween.

Still further, the present invention contemplates the provision of a construction which utilizes not only the tension of the deformable material of which the heel is disposed, but also the compression forces set up therein for the purpose of securing the shoe heel element in position.

Many other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

Fig. 1 illustrates in side elevation a shoe having the improved heel construction embodied therein.

Fig. 2 illustrates a shoe with the removable resilient heel element removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken sub-v stantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing in detail the interfitting engagement between the removable portion of the heel structure and the permanently mounted portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the permanently mounted portion of the heel structure.

Fig. 5 `is a top plan view of the removably mounted portion of the heel structure.

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are top plan views of several modified forms of removable heel elements embodying the same general principles of securement shown in the construction of Figs. l to 5, inclusive.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional Vview through a modied form of heel construction providing an exterior appearance substantially the same as conventional rubber heels.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the removable heel element shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a still further modified form of the invention. l

With more particular lreference to the drawing, particularly the embodiment thereof illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the structure of the present invention comprises a permanently mounted heel member l0 which is secured to the shoe structure by means of conventional clinched nails H driven therethrough and clinched interiorly of the shoe structure. This heel structure I0 has an outer configuration substantially the same shape as the heel structure desired but slightly smaller. This heel member l0 is undercut adjacent the shoe to which it is secured around its entire periphery to provide a sharp shouldered channel I2 extending inwardly from the outer periphery of the heel structure adjacent the sole of the shoe.

It has been found particularly desirable, as vwill hereinafter be more clearly seen, to form this permanently mounted heel l0 of rubber or suitable similar resilient composition material in order to facilitate the securement of the removably mounted heel member thereon. However, it will be clearly appreciated that in certain instances this permanently mounted heel member may be formed of leather or metal or equivalent composition as may be desired.

. A pair of channels I4 are formed in the bottom side of the permanently mounted heel member lil, and as will be seen by reference to Figures 3 and 4, these channels are of considerably greater width in their base portions than at the openings thereof, consequently providing a dovetailed recess for the reception and securement of the removably mounted heel member hereafter described in detail. These channels preferably extend from points relatively widely spaced at the rear portion of the heel member tol meet substantially in theV central portion of the front of the heel member, it having been found that this particular construction provides exceptionally strong Securement of the removably mounted heel member at the particular points where such strength of securement is necessary and desirable.

A removably mounted heel member I5 formed of rubber is provided with an exterior configuration of a shape and size adapted to form the exposed portion of the heel construction and has an interior conguration adapted to mate with and engage all of the available surfaces of the permanently mounted heel member I0. It will be seen that this heel member i5 is provided at its upper edge with an inwardly projecting flange I6 adapted to seat in the undercut portioncIZ of the permanently mounted heel member.

It will also be seen that this removably mounted heel member I5 is provided with dovetailportions I1 adapted to seat in the dovetail grooves I4 and engage substantially all surfaces thereof:y It-will be noted by reference to Fig. 3 that these dovetail portions It' are substantially wider at vtheir top portions than at their'bases in order to provide a substantial interlocking engagementof the removably mountedmember I5 with the permanently mounted heel member Ill;

The removably mounted heel member is necessarily formed of rubber or similar elastic resilient composition material and may easily be deformed suiilciently to slip over the heel member I0 and may be hammered into place in order that the dovetail portions I'I will be seated in interlocking engagement in the grooves Min the permanently mounted heel member. Due to the resilient construction of which the removably mounted heel member is composed, it will be held by tension in the undercut portion or channell I2 of the permanently mounted heel member and disposed in a condition of compression within the grooves I4 in the permanently mounted heel member. Consequently, both forces of tension and'compression are utilized forpermanently securing this removably mounted member in place. Y A

From the above described construction, it will be apparent that once the removably mounted heel element I5 has been firmly seated in place, the combination of the tensionally interlocked portions and the compressionally interlo'cked portion will cooperate to provide an exceptionally strong intertting relation between the component parts of the heel structure. Further, it will be appreciated that the unsightly joints A'normally occurring between the leather and rubber portions in conventional 1 rubber heel Ymountings is entirely eliminated Vin the construction of the present invention and that the heel structure provided' has an extremely attractive'exterior appearance. It will be further appreciated that when the removably mounted portion of the heel structure has been subjected to'considerable wear, it may easily be removed and replaced by the wearer without the necessity of resorting tov the services of a skilled artisan. 1

YIn the modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, itwill be appreciated that substantially the samefundamental. principles obtain. Fig. 6 illustrates a plan View of a modified form of removably-mounted heel structure which is provided with an inwardly projecting flange 2i) adapted to cooperate with the undercut portion of the permanently mounted heel structure with 'which it is associated. Interiorly this heel is provided with a downwardly extending dovetail recess 2I adapted toreceive a complementa] dovetail projection formed 'upon the permanently mounted portion of Vthe heel member 'with which it is adapted to be associated. It will be appreciated that this iorm of the invention utilizes, as did the preferred form, not only the forces of tension but the forces of compression for securing the removably mounted heel member in position.

Fig. 7 discloses a still further modiiied form of the invention, showing a removable heel element having an inwardly projecting flange 24 adapted to be'received within the undercut recess I2 surrounding the permanently mounted heel structure ID and having a substantially D-shaped island 25 inthe center thereof, which island portion is undercut to cooperate with a similarly shaped undercut recess formed in the permanently mounted portion of the heel to which this member is attached.

In the modied form oi the invention illustratedin Figure 8, a removable heel element 21 is shown, which has inwardly projecting flange 28 adapted to seat in the undercut recess of the permanently mounted heel member with which it is associated and has a circular channel 29 cut therein, the walls of the channel being undercut or downwardly sloping to cooperate with a complemental circular projection formed on lthe permanently mounted heel member with which it is associated.

In the still further modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, a. heel element 30 is shown adapted for removable mounting upon a complementa] permanently secured heel member, and it will be seen that this member is likewise provided with an inwardly projecting flange 3| similar to the flange I6 described above and adapted to tensionally engage the undercut portion of the permanently mounted heel member Y with which it is associated. This heel member is provided with a longitudinally extending dovetail projection 32 and a transversely extending dovetail projection 33 which are adapted to be seated in complemental dovetail recesses formed in the permanently mounted portion of the heel structure with which this removable element is associated.

In the still further modied form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, a removably mounted heel construction is shown which utilizes substantially the principles taught in this application and provides an exterior appearance substantially similar to that of a rubber heel which has been secured in the conventional manner.

In this form of the invention, it will be seen that the construction shown provides a permanently secured heel member 35 formed of leather or similar material, which is provided with a D- shaped channel 36 therein of substantially dovetail shaped cross section. The removably mounted heel element 3l has an outer configuration substantially identical in size and shape with that of the permanently mounted heel member 35, and is provided with an upwardly extending D-shaped ridge 38 of dovetail cross section adapted to seat in the channel 36 and secure the heel in position thereon. It will be appreciated that this latter modification permits the use of a removable heel Velement of considerably simpler construction Ythan the forms shown above.

utilizes a dovetail construction 42 to provide the intertting relation between the edge portions of the member and the heel portion 4| instead of the inwardly directed flange and undercut portion utilized in connection with the above embodiments of the invention. This construction has been found to be somewhat simpler than the above construction and provides a satisfactory gripping action. It will be appreciated that this form of the invention likewise includes an intertting dovetail 43 between the removable and permanently mounted portions of the heel section, in order that both the forces of tension and compression will be utilized for securing the parts in predetermined relative position.

The above embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative of the generic inventive concept presented herein and defined in the subjoined claims. Many other and further modifications, falling within the scope of the claims, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A shoe construction including, in combination, a relatively rigid heel member permanently secured to the shoe with which it is associated, said heel member having a channel of dovetail cross section formed in the bottom face thereof, said channel being of substantially uniform width and being substantially uniformly spaced from the marginal edge of the bottom face of said heel member, and a resilient heel member having a configuration substantially congruent to said permanent heel member, said resilient heel member having an endless ridge of dovetail cross section in the upper surface thereof adapted to seat within the channel formed in said permanent heel member to retain said resilient heel member in position with respect thereto with the lateral edges of said permanent and resilient heel members lying flush with each other.

2. A shoe construction including, in combination, a permanently mounted relatively rigid heel member, said heel member having a generally D- shaped channel of dovetail cross section formed in the bottom face thereof, the outer edge of said channel being substantially uniformly spaced from the marginal edge of said heel member, thereby forming an undercut projection of substantially D-shaped form in the central portion of the bottom face of said heel member, and a resilient heel member adapted for securement thereto, said resilient heel member having a substantially D-,shaped ridge of dovetail cross section formed on the upper surface thereof adapted to` seat within said channel, said resilient heel member having an exterior configuration substantially the same as said permanently mounted heel member, whereby when secured in position, the adjacent lateral surfaces of said heel members will lie flush with each other.

ROBERT D. MACDONALD. 

